PH345: Winter 2025
Chloropeth: graduated colors
Provinces are different sizes, different populations
Comparison across provinces is difficult
Bar chart of number of cases for each Chinese province
Is a map justified?
Blue replaces red. Less “emotive”
Rates replace totals
Hubei province rightly set apart from others
Dots representing 10 cases randomly placed in each province
Potential misleading conclusion that Hubei province was overwhelmed
Totals represented by proportional circles
Not adjusted for population
All areas represented, e.g. Macau and Hong Kong
Log-transformed totals
Importance of legend
Logarithm de-emphasizes extremely large values but risks over-emphasizing small values
Inappropriate ‘smoothing’ of data based upon geographic center
Epicenter (Hubei) is lost
Suggests all of eastern China was overwhelmed
Choice of projection
Web Mercator: up is always north. Distortions lead to risk of misinterpreting geographic area
Albers Equal Area preserves geographic area but can distort shape
Light blue = 2011,2014,or 2017; Dark Blue = 2021
How difficult is it to…
Sixty-two percent of the unbanked cited ‘lack of money’ as one of multiple responses (figure 1.2.3). (p35)
In Bangladesh, 69 percent of unbanked adults have a mobile phone; in Nepal, 73 percent (figure 1.2.6).
Figure 2.4.2 shows the relationship between payment inflows and the use of financial services among payment recipients as developing economy averages.
To understand the principles of effective and accurate graphical representation of different data types;
To draw conclusions from graphical representations about relationships and trends in variables;
To understand how graphical representations of data can be used to mislead or exaggerate relationships;
To create and improve data visualizations using the R statistical environment;
Gilbert, E.W., 1958. Pioneer maps of health and disease in England. The Geographical Journal, 124(2), pp.172-183.